Researchers Aim to Rid Hospitals of MRSA, E. Coli, and Other Bad Bugs

It used to be that when you needed surgery, your biggest worry was the operation itself. Today, superbugs like MRSA and other nasty infections that are the Houdinis of antibiotic resistance have made hospitals scary, too.

Like ants rushing to a picnic, these bad bugs flock to places full of people with weakened immune systems (yep, hospitals) and make checking in for even simple procedures not so simple. It's why many patients arrive with jugs of hand sanitizer, and why visitors bring hand sanitizer instead of flowers (though most hospitals today, like ours, have wall-to-wall sanitizer dispensers). If you or someone you love is heading for a hospital soon, check this list twice.

We bet you'll be as intrigued as we were by THIS news: First, Canadian researchers have cloned one of the body's systems for killing bad bugs. Certain antibodies use tiny, lethal blasts of ozone and hydrogen peroxide to attack certain germs. The combo has been turned into an ozone-peroxide gas that, when pumped into a room, sterilizes everything: floors, ceilings, furniture, bathrooms, and mattresses. (Bonus: It kills bed bugs). This video, starring us YOU Docs, explains how to tell if your hospital gets a gold seal of approval.

In the final study, MRSA, E. coli, C. difficile, and other famously difficult bacteria keeled over, as did viruses and molds. The disinfection process takes 60 minutes and supposedly leaves a pleasant smell, though we haven't had a whiff. Best news: It's available in early 2012. Find out why you'll never forget the treatment for C. difficile.

Meanwhile, Israeli microbiologists have developed another novel way to attack the deadly bacteria: infecting these tiny terrorists with a gene that breaks down their resistance to antibiotics. It's a liquid that's added to cleansers and is said to be nontoxic, cheap, and easy to make and use. While testing's not complete, it's still it's good to have a plan B.

MRSA bugs are starting to infiltrate schools and gyms, too. Check out this video.